Berlin Startup VARM Raises Funds to Train Workforce for Energy Efficiency

VARM, a Berlin-based climatetech startup, has raised €17.5 million in a Series A funding round led by ABN AMRO Sustainable Impact Fund and co-led by GET Fund. Aurum Impact, along with existing investors Emerge Partners and Pale Blue Dot, also participated in the round.

The funding comes at a critical time for Europe, where improving the energy efficiency of buildings is a pressing priority. In Germany alone, millions of homes lack proper insulation, highlighting the scale of the challenge. While insulation technologies are accessible, the shortage of skilled workers remains a major obstacle to large-scale implementation, a issue shared across the continent as countries strive to meet their 2030 building-efficiency goals.

VARM addresses this workforce gap with its innovative "Cloud Installer" model. The company trains career changers—including former logistics and retail workers—to become certified insulation specialists in weeks. These teams operate regionally, with VARM managing quality control and offering customers fixed-price quotes before projects begin. According to the company, a typical single-family home can be insulated in just six hours.

Founded by Christian Grüner, a mathematician and former Siemens Advanta executive, and Sebastian Würz, co-founder of the acquired housing platform Homefully, VARM plans to use the new funds to expand its operations and scale its workforce model to meet growing demand for energy-efficiency upgrades.